2025 World Shea Expo Set for Sept. 2-4 in Tamale

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has launched the second edition of the World Shea Expo 2025 , setting ambitious goals to unlock the full economic potential of the shea sector, generate employment, boost revenue, and empower women and youth in Northern Ghana.

 

Driven by the urgent need to address significant losses within the industry  where only 40% of shea nuts are currently harvested and processed, leaving a staggering 60% wasted  the Expo aims to be a catalyst for accelerated export development and diversification. Shea has been identified as a key priority non-traditional export earner.

 

Alhaji Imoro Issifu Alhassan, Executive Chairman of Savannah Golden Tree Limited, framed the President’s Shea Initiative as fundamentally about “dignity, jobs, and a better future” for women and youth, driving socio-economic transformation in the Savannah regions. He stressed that the North deserves this global platform to attract investment and spotlight its unsung women entrepreneurs and investors.

“This is an opportunity to spotlight women, entrepreneurs, and investors in Northern Ghana without recognition. When rural communities strive, Ghana will grow ” Alhaji Alhassan stated stressed.

 

A representative of COCOBOD who was present at the launch, Mr. Eric Amengor  highlighted both the challenges and commitments to the shea sector.  He acknowledged that “the story of shea hasn’t been told well” but emphasized its potential, noting that it is among Ghana’s top 10 non-traditional exports in 2024. He drew parallels: “Cocoa is from the south, cashew from the middle, shea is from the north and stressed that if shea [thrives], Ghana will develop.”

 

Amengor outlined COCOBOD’s support, including collaboration on research to increase yields and improve technology, establishing a dedicated shea unit, contributing to the National Shea Development Strategy (2020-2030), socio-economic research, and recognizing shea pickers through national farmer awards. COCOBOD confirmed its commitment to both the Accra launch and the main Expo in Tamale on September 3-4.

 

Hajia Jamilatu Ibrahim, Deputy CEO of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), expressed strong support, aligning the initiative with the NDA’s mandate to drive economic growth and unlock the region’s potential. She pledged tangible support, including provision of “vehicles and drivers.”

 

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John emphasized the significance of hosting the main Expo in Tamale , describing it as a key element of the government’s 24-hour economy policy. He highlighted the plight of women bearing “the hardest labour with the least reward” and youth lacking capital and training, stating the shea industry is perfectly positioned to address this. He pledged full support of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC)  leveraging local institutions like the Buipe Shea Factory and the University for Development Studies (UDS) for research and capacity.

 

GEPA’s Project Manager outlined the Expo’s concept, emphasizing shea as an exclusively African resource vital to the savannah ecological zone and primarily involving women. The Expo aims to:

1.  Accelerate export development and intervene significantly in the shea value chain.

2.  Recognize and celebrate women in the sector.

3.  Facilitate business-to-business (B2B) linkages.

4.  Increase participation of women and youth.

5.  Expand international markets and showcase Ghanaian shea quality.

6.  Promote climate-smart practices and biodiversity conservation.

 

Activities will include panel discussions, exhibitions, field visits, and high-level dialogues. Key targets include facilitating over 150 B2B linkages and connecting over 200 SMEs.

 

Presidential Advisor for agriculture and agribusiness, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor positioned shea as a “strategic national resource,” crucial for Ghana’s development goals (SDGs 1, 5,8,13). He linked the Expo directly to the national 24-hour economy policy, advocating for investments in all-season logistics to increase processing time, reduce losses, create jobs, and boost economic activity.  He described the theme: “Empowering women and youth-led SMEs: The role of government and financial institutions”  as both deliberate and strategic, addressing critical bottlenecks in finance and policy along the shea value chain from harvesting to manufacturing.

 

“World Shea Expo 2025 represents a renewed commitment to transform shea into tangible economic growth and empowerment. We are determined to build a resilient, transformed agricultural sector, starting with unlocking the potential of our ‘golden tree of the north”,  Dr. Boamah declared. “

 

 He called on investors and financial institutions to invest in the transformation of the shea to boost revenue.

 

The World Shea Expo 2025 will be held  in Tamale from September 2 to 4 and  is poised to be a pivotal moment for Ghana’s shea industry, aiming to harness its potential for national prosperity and the empowerment of its vital women and youth stakeholders.